Cheng 1

Vivian Cheng

Ms. Vlahopoulos

ENG3U1

May 20, 2014

Beyond the Exterior of a Damaged Woman


Sorrow is like a winter wind; at first its harsh character pierces the body with an
icy sting; however, in time, the accumulation of glacial pain leaves one numb to feeling.
A Thousand Acres, by Jane Smiley tells a tragic tale of oppression, jealousy, disloyalty,
and abuse that generates a dejected protagonist. The story revolves around a successful
farmers oldest daughter Ginny Cook, and her character development after her negative
experiences in a quiet and unassuming town. After Larry, Ginnys father, decides to
distribute his farmland amongst his three daughters, the tension that arises from the land
ownership ignites a series of dark revelations regarding family hatred and relationship
grief. As the story progresses, contemporary societal issues are revealed under the
picturesque veneer and the conflicts Ginny encounters eventually seclude her into a
labyrinth of misery. Ginnys psychological damage is a repercussion of her selfless
nature, tense family dynamics, and failed romantic relationships.
Ginnys selfless personality is one of the foundations to her emotional damage.
To lead, Ginny is wounded when her selfless endeavours are reciprocated by her sister
Roses selfish actions. Ginny remarks, I threw myself into feeding [Rose], cleaning her
house, doing her laundry, driving her to Zebulon Center for her treatments, bathing her,
helping her find a prosthesis, encouraging her with her exercises (Smiley 9). Despite
Ginnys endless generosity for Rose, she rarely mirrors Ginnys efforts. For this reason,
Cheng 2
Ginny and Rose share a flawed give-and-take relationship that gradually corrodes
Ginnys soul. Furthermore, Ginny is betrayed when her youngest sister, Caroline
overlooks her selfless behaviour and agrees to participate in a lawsuit against her and
Rose. Ginnys showcases her kindness when she states, Rose, who was working at that
time, gave [Caroline] money for clothes. I gave her an allowance. If she got invited to a
birthday party, we gave her money to buy a nice present. These were our principles we
were [Carolines] allies (64). Ginnys love for Caroline protects her from their ruthless
father, and in turn, allows her to pursue her lawyer ambitions and embark from their dull
rural lifestyle. To Ginnys disbelief, however, Caroline abandons and severs
communication with her sisters. Ginnys compassion and Carolines contradicting
ungratefulness force Ginny into distress. As the novel progresses, Ginnys family exploits
her selflessness.
Ginnys dysfunctional family directs her into despair. Firstly, Ginnys intricate
relationship with Larry leaves her destitute. All her life she fulfills Larrys requests with
blind obedience; as a consequence, he obtains the ability to manipulate her without
retaliation. Larrys twisted psyche infuriates Rose and she exclaims, [Larry] did beat us
and rape us. He beat us more than he raped us. He beat us routinely (302). Larrys
misogynistic abuse profoundly scars Ginny and hypnotizes her into a permanent state of
submission. Ginnys submissive attitude is harmful due to her harbouring of emotions
and incompetence of assertion. Growing up as a victim of violence from her own father,
Ginny becomes oppressed and severely unhappy. Moreover, Ginnys relationship with
Rose is defined by Ginnys consistent loyalty and Roses vehement jealousy. In contempt
of Ginnys strong feelings for Jess Clark, Roses envy prompts her illicit rendezvous with
Cheng 3
him. To Ginny, she confesses her adultery, Wheels within wheels, Ginny. Dont you
remember how Mommy said I was the most jealous child she ever knew? (303). Here,
Ginny discovers that her closest platonic relationship, in reality, is as fragile as glass.
Roses unmasked treachery shatters the long-term impression of sisterly loyalty and
ultimately sparks Ginnys emotional collapse. The abuse and mistreatment from Ginnys
family reduce her into a destructive compliancy that extends into her relationships.
Ginnys unsuccessful relationships with men contribute to her suffering. To begin,
Ginnys marriage with Ty is marred by the absence of Tys sympathy and proper
communication. As a result, Ginny aimlessly conceals her thoughts and feelings to avoid
conflict. As the plot advances, Ginny becomes conscious of her misery and exasperation
beyond the perfect horizon; she confesses her secrets to Ty and her stifled resentment is
articulated, I feel like Im waking up from a dream! A dream where you just go along
and go along and whatever you do, youre just looking on, youre not affecting anything!
(259). Ginny realizes her ideal marriage, in truth, is an unstable relationship disguised
under silence and artificial courtesy. Reasonably, Ginnys loveless marriage leaves her as
broken as ice at the touch of spring. In addition, Ginnys affair with Jess Clark upsets her
after he proves to be a womanizer. Ginny develops feelings for Jess because of the
affection he shows her, as opposed to the other men in her life. Yet, when Ginny admits
her love for him, he flatly rejects her and exhibits his apathy, What I heard in his voice
was pure, clear remorse that resonated in the ensuing silence like the note of a bell and
told me all I needed to know about every question that lingered from earlier in the
summer (263). Ginny is devastated because through her viewpoint, she believes Jess to
be warmhearted. In this situation, the author uses dramatic irony to highlight the concept
Cheng 4
of appearance vs. reality. Jess, in truth, is an uncaring Casanova. Although Jess is
evidently more admirable than the other male characters, readers fathom that he is
shameful due to his arbitrary theft of Ginny from Ty. Jess elusiveness and promiscuity
whirl Ginny into heartbreak. Ty and Jess indifferent treatment of Ginny is a component
of her emotional damage.
A Thousand Acres exposes the psychological wounds that result from consistent
selflessness, venomous family relationships, and dispassionate romantic relationships.
Through Ginny and her sisters contrasting personalities, the novel confronts the
selfishness of human nature and the sentiment that nave kindness can leave one
vulnerable to others insensitivity. Smiley implicitly advises readers to stand up for
themselves through Ginnys anguish that stems from her familys wrongful treatment. A
Thousand Acres echoes the aching hearts of readers who are in complicated relationships
and cautions them of potential heartbreak. The novel enthralls readers through the
uncovering of inconspicuous problems in Ginnys idyllic community. Ginnys bleak
journey as a character demonstrates that ones mental suffering can be a fault of society
as well as a fault of the victims. While this story amplifies the significance of a strong-
willed mind, if all individuals were to be more sympathetic to the feelings of others, the
world would be a much kinder place.